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Saturday April 3, 2010Burnley 1 - 6 Manchester City

Manchester City took pole position in the race for fourth place as they thrashed Burnley 6-1 in the Premier League having scored three within the opening seven minutes.

Micah was in line to start the game but a knee injury ruled him out, and the 21-year old watched from the sidelines as his teammates raced into the lead within minutes of kick-off.

Burnley’s defence has looked ropey at the best of times this season, conceding more than any other side in the top-flight, but the way in which they were systematically beaten time after time was an embarrassment.

City could already have been a goal to the good by the time Emmanuel Adebayor fired home unmarked after four minutes, following up a Adam Johnson shot which went out off the post with calm control and a finish to follow.

With the home fans already questioning why they had ventured to Turf Moor, there hopes were to be extinguished with two more quick-fire goals for Roberto Mancini’s men.

First, Craig Bellamy seized control of the ball before curling home from the left-side of Burnley’s penalty area, before Carlos Tevez collected a loose ball after Adebayor’s shot had been parried to make it 3-0.

Sections of the crowd began to head for the exit doors soon after, and whilst Brian Laws’ men managed to stave off the threat the visitors continually posed for at least ten minutes, it was to be four.

Johnson, who was a constant menace down the right, beat his man and picked out Patrick Vieira in the box, and the Frenchman was unmarked as he guided the ball home.

Shay Given must have been shocked when he was called into action for the first time after a well-struck shot from the edge of City’s box, and David Nugent’s header had the Republic of Ireland stopper scrambling soon after.

The spell certainly revitalised both Burnley and their fans, but the positivity was to be cut short once again as Tevez first hit the post after good improvisation, only for Adebayor to collect the Argentine’s pass a minute later and slot home to make it 5-0.

Heavy rain at the interval appeared to help Burnley when the teams returned, but Vincent Kompany was to increase City’s tally as he rose highest to head into the back of the hosts’ net.

The weather almost handed Burnley a lifeline as the referee considered calling the game off, but play continued – and the home fans finally had something to cheer as their side pulled a goal back.

Carl Fletcher it was with the goal, advancing through the Eastlander’s defence and beating Given with a well-angled shot.

It was unfortunate for City that it was Burnley who had the final laugh, especially as it was the conditions more than their opponents that put pay to further goals for the boys in blue, but Mancini will be delighted with such a comprehensive performance as his side placed themselves in contention for Champions League qualification.